HS2 Ltd has received a Platinum advanced award from The Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) as part of its Procurement Excellence Programme, one of only 17 organisations globally to achieve the accreditation at this level.
Platinum, the highest award level, is granted to organisations which can demonstrate that excellence in procurement and contract management is the lifeblood of their business. Just 10 organisations in the UK have received the accolade from the professional body, demonstrating the sheer proficiency of HS2’s governance and management processes.
The award follows an evidence-based assessment of 151 separate submissions, which scrutinised the way that HS2 Ltd operates, alongside its performance against five assessment criteria:
- Leadership & Organisation
- Strategy
- People
- Processes and Systems
- Performance Measurement and Management
Collaboration is at the heart of HS2 Ltd’s stand-out strategy. The company adopts a ‘team of teams’ approach across its project delivery, procurement, commercial and technical teams, underpinned by strong governance, transparency and external scrutiny. This approach extends to its supply chain, with contractors integrated into project teams to ensure seamless ways of working and an agile response to the evolving needs of the project.
HS2 Ltd’s CIPS submission went through three rounds of review and assessment before culminating in an interview with an independent verifier. There was unanimous agreement that the company delivering one of the most complex infrastructure projects ever undertaken in the UK should receive the top award.
On receiving the award, HS2’s Chief Commercial Officer, Ruth Todd said: “This award demonstrates the robustness of the procurement and commercial policies and processes that HS2 has in place to ensure public money is managed responsibly as we build Britain’s new railway.
“Our fair and competitive processes ensure we bring the very best suppliers and talent on board, while driving value for money. Today, CIPS has recognised that HS2 Ltd is not just committed, but excelling in the way it operates.”
Image credit: HS2
